The Drill

As I stepped out of the house, I was fascinated by the Gulmohar tree, the Bougainville flowers, and the Neem tree, all doing some sort of synchronised drill.

The labourers on the construction sites were also busy.  At least six apartments were being built in the vicinity, and all were involved in specific drills.

Last evening, as I sat in the dental clinic, waiting for my turn, the whirring of the drilling machine kept piercing my ears.

Drill – drill – drill.

It struck me that the entire life is one unending drill.

I suddenly heard our old school PTI ordering the girls in a bellowing voice:

“Pehli line ka doosra ladka,
theek nahi chalta theek chalega 
Ek do ek.” 

Morning Meanderings Season 4 – the weekly column by Santosh Bakaya

To this day, I do not remember why he referred to the girls as boys, and why his commands were embellished with harmless but funny expletives.

And why the ‘pehli line ka doosra ladka’ invariably happened to be me! A GIRL!

I was a tomboy – yes – but…

I must admit, he had a huge repertoire of innocuous expletives, which he very discreetly refrained from using in front of the nuns.

But once a very colourful expletive slipped from his mouth in their presence, and he sheepishly scampered away, hitching up his loose khaki half-pants.

But, I, a ten-year-old was witness to a pair of fiery eyes drilling holes in his broad back.

The drilling machine of the present was at work again at the construction site, drowning the stentorian command of the PTI of my school days.

Well, as I said, it’s all a question of drills.

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About the Author

Santosh Bakaya ( 175 Posts)

Dr Santosh Bakaya is the author of three mystery novels for young adults, and a book of essays titled Flights From My Terrace, which was recently published as an e-book on Smashwords. Her poetic biography of Mahatma Gandhi, Ballad Of Bapu has been published by Vitasta Publishers, Delhi, India in May 2015 and has been receiving rave reviews from everywhere. Although a Political theorist, with a doctorate in political theory, it is literature which has been her first love. She was awarded the Reuel international award for language and literature 2014 for her long poem Oh Hark!, which forms part of the Significant Anthology. Many of her poems have figured in the highly commended category in Destiny Poets, a UK based website and many are part of international anthologies. Right now, she is giving the final touches to her satirical novel, tentatively titled Sanakpur Shenanigans.
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